Portable litter receptacles



Dec. 1, 1964 R. J. LUKEZICH PORTABLE LITTER RECEPTACLES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 21, 1963 8 RUDOLPH J. LUKEZICH ATTORNEYS Dec. 1, 1964 R. J. LUKEZICH PORTABLE LITTER RECEPTACLES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 21, 1963 m m m N I 138 I34 "3A I32A RUDOLPH J. LUKEZICH United States Patent Ofitice 3353,5589 Patented Dec. 1, 1964 3,153,889 PORTABLE LITTER RECEPTAQLES Rudolph 3. Lulrezich, 1121 N. Maple 31%, Royal Oak, Mich. Filed .lnne 21, 1963, Ser. No. 293,882 15 Qlaims. (Cl. 15-142) The present application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Serial No. 202,198, filed lune 13, 1962 and now abandoned.

The present invention relates to litter receptacles and more particularly to such a device adapted for use in combination with what are commonly called dry mops.

Presently a large portion of the every day cleaning of the floors of buildings and institutions such as office buildings, schools and the like, is being done with what are referred to as dry mops. These are essentially standard dust mops which have been impregnated with a cleaning compound. Dust and debris will adhere to such a mop and it is therefore necessary to periodically remove this matter to restore the mop to efiective working condition.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a means of removing and collecting matter adhering to dry type mops and the like by providing a receptacle having an overlying grate member over which such a mop may be agitated.

It is yet another object of the present invention to reduce the time md difficulty of cleaning floors and the like by providing a litter receptacle which may be readily moved about and which is provided with ramp means upon which dirt and refuse may be swept or mopped into the receptacle.

It is still another object of the present invention to ease the cleaning of dry type mops and the like by providing a portable litter receptacle having means selectively operable to lock the device in a stationary position with respect to the floor.

It is still another object of the present invention to reduce shipping costs and storage space for the aforementioned receptacles by providing a device which folds up into a compact unit.

It is yet another object of the present invention to increase the maneuverability of litter receptacles and the like by providing a steering post rotatably mounted on the front of such a device, a wheel member mounted on each side of said post and an elongated handle connected with the opposite end of the steering post.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide such a device having a readily removable refuse collecting liner.

Still further objects and advantages will readily occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention pertains upon reference to the following drawings in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views and in which FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of one preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FlG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view enlarged for purposes of clarity and as seen from the right hand side of FIG. 1. 7

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view as seen from the left hand side of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 and illustrating the device in use, and

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 illustrating the device in the folded or compact position.

Now referring to the drawings for a more detailed description of the present invention, one preferred device is illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 as comprising a housing 14) having a pair of substantially vertical side walls 11 and end walls 12 and a substantially horizontal floor portion 13. The walls 1142 and floor portion 13 define a reception chamber 14. The end walls 12 preferably are provided with top flanges 15 which diverge outwardly of the housing 10 in a common plane substantially parallel to the plane of the floor portion 13 while the side walls 11 are provided with top flanges 16 which diverge outwardly and upwardly with respect to the housing 10.

A grate member 17 is adapted to be removably carried by the housing Iii in a position substantially parallel to and overlying the floor portion 13 and for this purpose has edge portions 18 which are bent complementary to the top flange l6. Resilient seat members 19 are provided to engage the surface of the flanges 16. Longitudinal bars 17A have return bent ends adapted to engage the inner surfaces of the end walls 12 of the housing 19 to limit longitudinal movement of the grate member 17.

A removable insert pan 26 is adapted to be carried in the reception chamber 14 intermediate the grate member 17 and the floor portion 13. A laterally extending barshaped handle 28A is provided for the insert pan 26.

A ramp member 21 having a planar surface 210 is hinged as at 23 to one of the flanges 16.

As can best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the exterior surface of the door portion 13 is preferably provided with a plurality of resilient support members 24. An angle member 25 is carried on the exterior surface of one of the end walls 12 intermediate the floor portion 13 and the top flange 15 by a pair of hinge members 26. The hinge members 26 permit the angle member 25 to pivot in a plane substantially normal to the plane of the floor portion 13 as indicated by the dotted line position of FIG. 2. An arm member 27 pivotally carries a latch member 28. A spring 29 urges the latch member 28 to engage the angle member 25 and prevent pivotal movement thereof. Pivoting of the latch member 28 away from the angle member 25 permits the latter to pivot and a cam surface 30 of the latch member 23 prevents the return of the angle member 25 to the solid line position until once again the latch member 28 has been pivoted, preferably by manually depressing a flange 28A provided for this purpose.

A bar 31 is secured to the angle member 25 by any convenient means such as welding (not shown) and rotatably carries a steering post 32. The steering post 32 rotates on an axis substantially normal to the plane of the door portion 13 and has an end extending closely adjacent the plane of the flange 15 and an opposite end extending closely adjacent the plane of the floor portion 13. A cross shaft 32A is carried at the lower end of the steering port 32. Wheels 33 are rotatably carried at opposite ends of the cross shaft 32A, and a handle 34 is pivotally mounted on the opposite end of the steering post 32.

A pair of hinges 35 is carried on the exterior surface of the floor portion 13 closely adjacent the other end wall 32 and are operable to pivot a rod 36 from the solid line position illustrated in FIG. 3 in a plane substantially normal to the plane of the floor portion 13 to the dotted line position illustrated in FlG. 3. The rod 36 rotatably carries a pair of wheel 37.

It is apparent that the present device has been designed to permit it to be readily stored until it is ready for use. T he handle 34 will pivot to a position resting on the grate l7 and the ramp 21 will pivot to a position overlying the handle 34; When it is desired to use the device, the wheels 3337 are positioned in the solid line positions illustrated and the handle 34 is used to pull the device to the location where it is to be used. The wheels 33 being swivelingly mounted to the bar by the steering post The handle 13% is preferably rubber grips 138.

a As can best-be seen in p the exterior 'surfaceiof thefloor portion 113 and rotatably 32 permits the device to be maneuvered easily. When the location of use has been reached, the ramp 21 is moved so that its bottom edge engages the floor and refuse may then be swept up the ramp 21 and into the removable pan 2%. When the mop becomes clogged with dirt the wheels 33-37 are pivoted to the dotted line positions indicated and the device will then rest on the resilient supports 24. These will resist relative movement be agitated across the top of the grate 17 to loosen the dirt and refuse adhering to the mop and thus restore it to working condition.

Another preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 4-6 ascornprising a housing llvl 'substantiaily similar to the housing described above and having a pair of substantially vertical side walls 111 and end walls 112 and a substantially horizontal floor por- ,tion 113. 'Th'e walls 111-112 and floor portion 113 de- 'fine a reception chamber 114. The end walls 112 preferably are provided with top flanges 115 which diverge outwardly of the housingillll in a common plane and substantially parallel 'to the plane of the floor portion "113 while the side walls 111 are provided with top flanges. 116 which diverge outwardly and upwardly with respect to the housing 110 A grate member 117 substantially similar to the grate member 17 desciibed above is adapted to be removably carried by the housing 111 in a position substantially parallel to and overlying the. floor portion 113. Edge portions 118 and seat members 119 engage the surface of the flanges 116 to position the grate member 117 as 7 described above with reference'toFlGS. 1-3. Longitudinal bars 117A have return bent ends which engage the inner surfaces of the end walls 112 to limit longitudinal movement of the grate member 117.

,It will be noted that the insert pan 2% of the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 is not used with the embodi- 1 ment. shown in FIGS. 4-6.

A ramp member 121 is provided with aplanar surface 121A andis hinged asat 123 to one of the flanges 116 and is adapted to be pivoted from the position shown in FIG; 4 to the position covering the device as illustrated a *in FIG. 6. V V w a An angle member 125 is'secured to the exterior surface 'of one of the end Walls 112 preferably by welding (not shown) A hollow bar 131 is secured to the angle memof the steering post 132 and rotatably carries a pair of wheels 133. The wheels 133 are positioned on opposite sides of the post 132 and closely adjacent thereto and are preferably rotatable on axes closely adjacent the the door portion 113.

a The end 113A of steering post 132 carries a cross pin 132A An elongated handle 134 is pivotally mounted to the post 132 by brackets 135. T he handle 134 pivots on plane of I 7 between the device and the floor and the mop may then r FIG. 6 illustrates the preferred embodiment in a folded or compact position for storage or shipping. The handle 134 will pivot downwardly to rest upon the grate member 1117 and the ramp member 121 will pivot over the handle 134 to close the top of the device. While it has been preferred to illustrate only the preferred embodiment of FIGS. 46 in the folded or compact position, it is apparent that the embodiment of FIGS. 13 can be similarly positioned.

Preferably the wheels 133 and'137 are constructed of rubber or similar material so that when litter is being swept up the ramp member 121 the wheels133 and 137 will resist displacement of the device. a

The particular construction a'nd positioning of the steering posts 32'and 132, the wheel members 33 and 133 and the wheel members 3'7 and 137 described in detail with respect to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 4- -6 provides a device which may be easily maneuvered from place to place. In addition, by positioning the axis of the wheels 33, 133, 37 and 137 substantially parallel with and closely adjacentthe fioor'portions 13 and 113 rebers 17 and 117 may be readily removed when the device becomes full of litter and requires emptying. Inaddition, the flange portions 16 and 116 also position the ramp 7 member 21 and 121 from the grate members 17 and 117 when the device is folded so that a space is provided for the handles 34 and 134. v e

It is apparent that although it has een preferred to describe the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3 as including an insert pan that the device could also be used without it.

an axis closely'adjacent the plane of the top flange 115.

FIG. 6, a rod 136 is secured to carries a pair; of wheels'137.

The preferred embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 4 6"ist shown ,The handle 134 is pivoted downwardly until the grips 133 engage the floor. The operator steps on the v 4 7 shown in FIG. 5 in position to be used to cleana mop (not grips 138 to prevent the device'from moving while the mopis agitated across the grate 113.

provided with a pair of Similarly, although it has been preferred to describe the embodiment of FIGS. 46 as-not includingsuch a pan, it

could also be used with that device.

Although I have described two embodiments of the "present invention, it is apparent that other changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim: V 1. A device for the reception of litter and the like comprising a a (b) a grate member removably carried by said walls (e);wheel members carried by and supporting said,

' housing, V v

(ffmeans for selectively pivoting said wheel members upwardlyin planes substantially normal to the plane a 'of said floor portion to a pivotal positiony.

(g) means swivelingly mounting a pair of said wheel members to said pivoting means. whereby said'pair of wheel members maybe swiveled in afplane substantially parallel to the plane of said fioor portion,

(h) a handle member pivotally connected to said pair 'of wheel members, and

said ramp member to the top edge of one of said walls.

2. A device for the reception of litter and the like comprising (a) a housing having substantially vertical side and end Walls and a substantially horizontal fioor portion, said walls defining an open top reception chamber,

(b) a grate member removably carried by said walls in a position substantially parallel to and overlying said floor portion,

(c) wheel members carried by and supporting said housing,

(d) means for selectively pivoting said wheel members upwardly in planes substantially normal to the plane of said floor portion to a pivotal position,

(e) means swivelingly mounting a pair of said wheel members to said pivoting means whereby said pair of wheel members may be swiveled in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of said floor portion,

(1) a handle member pivotally connected to said pair of wheel members, and

(g) a ramp member and means hingedly connecting said ramp member to the top edge of one of said Walls.

3. device for the reception of litter and the like comprising (a) a housing having substantially vertical side and end Walls and a substantially horizontal floor portion, said Walls and floor portion defining an open top reception chamber,

(b) a gate member removably carried by said walls 7 in a position substantially parallel to and overlying said fioor portion,

(0) a removable insert pan carried in said reception chamber intermediate said grate member and said floor portion,

(:1) said insert pan being vertically removable from said reception chamber and having handle means for manually lifting said insert pan from said reception chamber,

(2) a first and second pair of wheel members carried by and supporting said housing,

(f) said Walls having a top flange,

(g) a ramp member having a top edge hingedly connected to the top flange of one of said Walls and a second edge substantially normal to said top edge,

(h) said second edge having a length greater than the height of said walls,

(2') means for selectively pivoting said first and second pair of wheel members upwardly in planes su stantially normal to the plane of said floor portion to a pivotal position, said means comprising an angle member hingedly carried on the exterior surface of one of said end walls and operable to be pivoted upwardly to a pivoted position,

a latch member selectively operable to prevent movement of said angle member to said pivoted position, and

said first pair of wheel members being rotatably carried by said angle members and pivotal therewith, hinge means carried on the other end wall and having means for rotatably carrying said second pair of wheel members,

(j) means swivelingly mounting said first pair of said wheel members to said pivoting means whereby said first pair of wheel members may be swiveled in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of said fioor portion, and

(k) a handle member pivotally connected to said first pair of wheel members.

4. A device for the reception of litter and the like comprising (a) a housing having substantially vertical side and end walls and a substantially horizontal floor portion,

said walls and floor portion defining an open top reception chamber,

(b) a grate member removably carried byvsaid walls in a position substantially parallel to and overlying said floor portion,

(0) wheel members carried by and supporting said housing,

(d) a ramp member having a top edge hingedly connected to the top flange of one of said walls and a Second edge substantially normal to said top edge,

(e) said second edge having a length greater than the height of said walls,

(f) means for selectively pivoting said wheel members upwardly in planes substantially normal to the plane of said floor portion to a pivotal pasition, said means comprising an angle member hingedly carried on the exterior surface of one of said end walls and operable to be pivoted upwardly to a pivoted position,

a latch member selectively operable to prevent movement of said angle member to said pivoted position, and

at least one of said wheel members being rotatably carried by said angle member and pivotal therewith,

means pivotally carried on the other end Wall and having means for rotatably carrying a pair of said wheel members,

(g) means swivelingly mounting said angle member carried wheel member to said angle member whereby said Wheel member may be swiveled in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of said floor portion, and

(h) a handle member pivotally connected to said angle member carried wheel member.

5. A device for the reception of litter and the like comprising (a) a housing having substantially vertical side and end walls and a substantially horizontal fioor portion, said walls defining an open top reception chamber,

(b) a grate member removably carried by said Walls in a position substantially parallel to and overlying said floor portion,

(c) a removable insert pan carried in said reception chamber intermediate said grate member and said fioor portion,

(d) said insert pan being vertically removable from said reception chamber and having handle means for manually lifting said insert pan from said reception chamber,

(e) a first and a second pair of wheel members carried by and supporting said housing,

(1) said walls having a top flange,

(g) a ramp member having a planar surface,

(h) one edge of said planar surface hingedly connected to the top edge of one of said walls and a second edge of said planar surface being substantially normal to said top edge,

(i) said second edge having a length greater the the height of said walls whereby said ramp member is operable to pivot to a floor engaging position and said planar surface provides a surface in said pivoted position upon which litter can be swept from the floor into said insert pan, and

(j) means for selectively pivoting said pairs of Wheel members upwardly in planes substantially normal to the plane of said floor portion to a pivotal position, said means comprising an angle member hingedly carried on the exterior surface or one of said end walls and operable to pivot upwardly to a pivotal position,

a latch member selectively operable to prevent movement of said angle member to said pivotal position,

, 2 said first pair of wheel members being rotatably carried by said angle member and pivotal there- 7 with, 'a hinge member carried on the other end wall and having means for rotatably carrying said second pair of wheel members.

6. The device as defined in claim 5 and including means swivelingly mountingsaid first pair of said Wheel 'membersto said angle member whereby said first pair of wheel members may be swiveled in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of said floor portion.

7. A device .for the reception of litter and the like comprising i l (a)' a housing having substantially vertical side and end walls and'a substantially horizontal floor portion, said walls defining an open top reception chamber,

(b) a grate member removably carried by said walls in a position substantially parallel to and overlying said floor portion, 7

(c) a first and second pair of wheel members carried by and supporting said housing,

(d) said walls having atop flange,

(e) a ramp member having a planar surface,

(1) one edge of said planar surface hingedly connected to the top edge of one of said Walls and a second edge of said planar surface being substantially normal to said top edge,

(g) said second edge having a length greater than the height of said Walls whereby said ramp member is operable to pivot to a floor engaging position and said planar surface provides a surface in said pivoted position upon which litter can be swept from the floor into said reception chamber, and

(12) means for selectively pivoting said wheel members upwardly in planes substantially normal to the plane of said fioor portion to a pivotal position, said means comprising an angle member hingedly carried on the exterio movement of said angle member to said pivotal position,

said first pairof wheel members being rotatably carried by said angle member and pivotal therewith, hinge means carried on the other end wall and having means rotatably carrying said second pair of wheel members. p

8. The device as defined in claim 7 and including means swivelingly mounting said first pairof said wheel members to said pivoting means whereby said first pair of wheel members may be swiveled in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of said floor portion.

9. A device for the reception of litter and the like comprising,

(a) a housing having a floor portion and defining an open top reception chamber,

(b) a grate removably carried by said housing in a position substantially parallel to and overlying said floor portion,

(c) wheel members carried by and supporting said housing,

(d) a ramp member having an edge hingedly connected to said housing,

(2) means for selectively pivoting said wheel members upwardly in planes substantially normal to the plane of said floor portion to a pivotal position, and

(f) means swivelingly mounting a pair of said wheel members to said pivoting means whereby said pair of wheel members may be swiveled in a plane substantially parfllel to the plane of said fioor portion. 10. A device for the reception of litter and the like comprising 7 (a) a'housing having a floor portion and defining an open top reception chamber,

('b) agrate member carried by said housing in a position overlying said floor portion, 1

(c) a ramp member having an edge hingedly connected to said housing, p

(d) a horizontal rod secured to the exterior'of said floor portion near one end of said housing and a wheel rotatably mounted on each end of said rod,

(e) a bracket mounted on the exterior'suriace at the other end of said housing in a position spaced upwardly from said floor portion,

( a post rotatably motmted in said bracket to rotate on an axis substantially normal to the plane of said floor portion, n

(g) a cross shaft mounted in said post and having an axis substantially co-planar with the plane of said floor portion,

(h) a Wheel member rototably mounted on each end of said cross shaft whereby said last mentioned wheel members are substantially coaxial with said rod mounted wheel members, and

(i) a handle member pivotally connected with said post. a 11. A device for receiving litter from a floor or the like comprising (a) a housing having substantially vertical side and end Walls and a substantially horizontal floor portion,

(b) said walls and said floor portion defining an open top reception chamber,

(0) a grate member carried by saiclwalls in a position overlyingsaid floor portion,

(d) a ramp member and means pivotally connecting said ramp member with said housing on an axis substantially parallel with said floor portion,

(e) said ramp member being operable to pivot from a floor engaging position to a positionclosing the top of said open top reception chamber,

(f) a pair of rear Wheel members rotatably carried by and supporting said housing,

(g) a steering post rotatably mounted to said housing to rotate in an axis substantially normal to the plane of said floor'portion,

(h) a pair of front wheel members each rotatably mounted on one end of said steering post,

(i) a handle connected with the opposite end of said post and being operable to pivot to a position overlying said grate member whereby said device can be folded into a compact position by pivoting said handle over said grate member and pivoting said ramp member over said handle.

v12. A device adapted to receive litter from a floor and the like comprising (a) a housing having substantially vertical side and end walls and a substantially horizontal floor portion,

(b) said walls and said floor portion defining an open top reception chamber,

(0) each of said side walls being provided with a top flange extending angularly upwardly and outwardly from said housing,

(d) a grate member removably carried by said top flanges in a position overlying said floor portion,

(e) a rectangular ramp member having one edge hingedlyiconnected with one of said top flanges and an opposite edge adapted to engage the floor at one pivoted position ofsaid ramp member and to engage the other of said top flanges at another pivoted position of sad ramp member whereby at said first mentioned pivoted position of said ramp member litter may be swept from the floor to said reception chamber and said ramp member closes said reception. chamber at said second mentioned pivoted position,

(f) a pair ofrear wheel members rotatably carried by and supporting said housing,

(g) a pair of front Wheels and means swivelingly mounting said front wheels to said housing,

(h) said grate member being spaced from said ramp member at said second mentioned pivoted position of said ramp member, and

(i) a handle pivotally mounted to said wheel mounting means and operable to be pivoted from a floor engaging position to a position intermediate said ramp member and said grate member whereby at said first mentioned pivotal position of said handle member said handle member resists displacement of the device and at said second mentioned position of said handle member the device is folded into a compact unit for storage or shipping.

13. The device as defined in claim 12 and in which said Wheel mounting means comprises (a) a steering post mounted on said housing to rotate on an axis substantially normal to the plane of said floor portion,

(b) said steering post having one end closely adjacent the plane of said floor portion and an opposite end closely adjacent the plane containing the upper edges of said walls,

(c) a cross shaft carried by said steering post adjacent the first mentioned end thereof,

(d) said front Wheels being rotatably mounted on said cross shaft,

10 (e) said handle being pivotally carried at the second mentioned end of said steering post.

14. The device as defined in claim 13 and including a rod secured to the exterior surface of said floor portion and said rear Wheels being rotatably carried on said rod.

15. The device as defined in claim 14 and in which said Wheels are rotatable on axes substantially parallel to and closely adjacent the plane of said floor portion.

References Iited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 577,452 Richardson Feb. 23, 1897 1,257,308 Boyle Feb. 26, 1918 1,572,102 Braunsdorf Feb. 2, 1926 1,768,277 White June 24, 1930 1,995,443 Baker Mar. 26, 1935 2,121,426 Dickinson June 21, 1938 2,379,476 Cleveland July 3, 1945 2,564,822 Space Aug. 21, 1951 2,780,822 Dickinson Feb. 12, 1957 2,923,023 Lovinggood Feb. 2, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 74,638 Austria Sept. 10, 1918 

9. A DEVICE FOR THE RECEPTION OF LITTER AND THE LIKE COMPRISING, (A) A HOUSING HAVING A FLOOR PORTION AND DEFINING AN OPEN TOP RECEPTION CHAMBER, (B) A GRATE REMOVABLY CARRIED BY SAID HOUSING IN A POSITION SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO AND OVERLYING SAID FLOOR PORTION, (C) WHEEL MEMBERS CARRIED BY AND SUPPORTING SAID HOUSING, (D) A RAMP MEMBER HAVING AN EDGE HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO SAID HOUSING, (E) MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY PIVOTING SAID WHEEL MEMBERS UPWARDLY IN PLANES SUBSTANTIALLY NORMAL TO THE PLANE OF SAID FLOOR PORTION TO A PIVOTAL POSITION, AND (F) MEANS SWIVELINGLY MOUNTING A PAIR OF SAID WHEEL MEMBERS TO SAID PIVOTING MEANS WHEREBY SAID PAIR OF WHEEL MEMBERS MAY BE SWIVELED IN A PLANE SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO THE PLANE OF SAID FLOOR PORTION. 